Tag: adventure

Paris is one of the cities that many people hope to visit one day, and I had the pleasure to be able to explore the city that I have been obsessed with since the day I was born. Paris is my middle name and also to honor the later Princess Diana. Growing up reading Eloise and Madeline, Paris has always been on the top of my list. On the first day of our adventure in Paris, we took the Eurostar from London into the city and we had a chance to explore the rainy streets of Sacre-Coeur, one of the most famous cathedral in Paris, other than Notre Dame.

I have always dreamed about walking in the streets of Paris, with a baguette in hand, a scarf wrapped around my neck and wearing a cute striped dress but in that time I had an umbrella, soaked shoes and a chocolate crepe from a restaurant. Despite the rain, I loved the beauty that calls itself the City of Lights. The narrow lanes with cute unique shops, even a Starbucks a friend of mine wanted to stop in, and to my surprise that many Parisians speak English. Out of everyone on my tour group, I knew the most French but thinking of becoming fluent in the language.

This area is known as Montmatre, the neighborhood of Paris that is famous for their artists. I hope to go back one day, when it is not raining and see the up-in-coming painters work on their masterpieces.

For the longest time, I have always wanted to explore an English village. See how they live and the landscape that reminds me of a story book. Our tour took us to Windsor Castle where the Queen goes during the Summer.

The Castle restricts pictures inside so I took a lot of the gardens outside. I love how the English keep their gardens and the flowers that they bloom, it is quite magical to me. After touring the Castle, I walked around the shopping center that is across the street from the grounds. It is quite the picture perfect English village that I inspires me to move to one day.

After the we arrived back in London, a group of us took a bike tour of Kensington Gardens and Hyde Park. I swear, a way to my heart is to take me to explore parks and the beautiful nature that they include, especially the flowers. There is a picture below from Princess Diana’s Memorial that includes Long Lake with the Eye hidden behind the trees that I quite enjoy.

That night, we went to see Charlie and the Chocolate Factory at the West End where I was able to try British candy, they were rather interesting.

The last day in London, we had gone to the British Museum. I did not take many pictures there but videos so they are included in my vlog. Having learned about American history my whole life, because duh I am from America, I had some ideas of British history but not too much. I learned more about the colonies they once had in the East and the wars they have fought and had the final say. I saw the Rosetta Stone and I learned more about Eastern Culture than I have ever did before. I saw the Chess Set that inspired J.K. Rowling for Wizard Chess. The Egyptian jewelry inspired me, I saw a pre-mummfied body which I saw for a second and felt sick and learned many stories behind the golds and silver that are hidden behind the glass cases. The thing I wished I could have witness was the Reading Room, but the thing I did try was eggplant in vegetarian pasta. British food is definitely different from I am used to, even on the plane ride over I had mushroom pasta.

Afterwards, the traveling group created a Spy Walk, pretending we are part of famous spy group to take us around the city to find clues, gain points and learn more about the history around us. I thought it was fun, I was of course the fastest because I am good with maps but it made others frustrated for going too fast but I got annoyed with people walking too slow. Sadly we didn’t win but I really enjoyed it.

As soon as we got back to the hotel, me and a few friends grabbed a taxi and went up to the infamous Abbey Road, which is rather a busy street. I took their picture of the recreating the famous Beatles cover art, but it took 3 attempts, and 2 of them include almost being hit with a car. It wasn’t part of our tour but when will the next time I be in London so I thought why not visit it.

It was a quiet night, so my Gram and I had gone out to dinner down the street at Portman’s which was small but the atmosphere was comforting.

If you ever have the chance to go to London, I advise you to even if for a short time. I loved the whimsical shops and British lanes that I could spend forever exploring the city.

On the 3rd day, we decided to check out the Changing of the Guards because we were not going to be able to see it on our tour. Although it was not the most exciting thing ever, I kind of got a upfront view of the inside gate. Waiting for that day that I marry royalty.

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My tour officially started that day and we took a bus around the city especially the main tourist landmarks. I swear I love this city and hope one day (when this whole Brexit fixes itself) that I might live there.

The next day we went to the Tower of London, I realized that the history that occurred in the city was far cruel than I knew. After exploring the Crown Jewels and hearing the stories of the two princes, we took a speed boat down the Thames which was absolute best thing ever! And seeing my favorite blogger, Eleanor Calder, on the same boat a few weeks later made me excited.

We went on the London Eye and I do not think I will ever go on it again. Being in a small pod, high in the air, there is not much of an escape route and feeling it abruptly start again and nearing knocking me over ended with me sitting on the bench and gripping the side.

Afterwards we walked towards the Covent Gardens but first finding a Carousel and a hidden skate park, like this city has hidden beauty. We had gone to the Charles Dicken’s Cafe for some food and went down towards the market. I swear every time I start to head back where he had came from, I find a cute street that I have to go down to visit!

On June 13th, my grandma and I took an overnight flight to London, England! Having felt anxious for the 7 hour flight, we made it around 6 am London time and as soon as I got there, I felt refreshed. The airport even had cute coffee shops that I would see in vlogs. FYI they offered me a drink on the flight, I am 18 so it is considered legal in England, but I opted for tea.

After an insane drive and a 2 hour nap, we had tea planned at the restaurant in our hotel. To my surprise, it was one of those fancy hotels, because I am so used to Holiday Inns that I never knew what it was like to stay at a very fancy hotel. This hotel is thanks to the tour company that we used, Tauck, and they treated us like royalty.

It was rather weird being an American and viewing England’s very proper attitude and that such being a customer they literally treated like I was the Queen, only I can wish. The food is so different that I ate about 3 cucumber and cream cheese sandwich slices, I am at least trying. I got the Hibiscus Tea which was not too strong or bitter for my liking so I quite enjoyed it. I especially loved the centerpieces, especially the flowers and I have also learned that I am not a big fan of jelly. The dress I wore to tea if from Free People.

Our hotel was in the Marble Arch neighborhood so we decided to find it and we did not realize how close we were to Hyde Park! So our effort to stay awake was to walk walk around the city so we, I mean I, came with the idea to go to Madame Tussaud’s . I had to see the Zalfie wax figures of course! I texted my mom the picture and she actually thought that I had met them, sadly I did not 😦 .

We headed back for the hotel so my grandma fell asleep while I watched the people from out hotel window. Other than having a cereal bar for dinner, I really enjoyed the first night in London because it was so magical to me.

DAY 2

The second day started bright and early because we had to catch a bus to head to Harry Potter Studios of course! I am a huge Harry Potter fan and a movie fan so going there was a complete dream! I might move to England to work for a film company, but that is just an idea for now.

Here are the few of many photos I took and I highly suggest going even if you are not a Harry Potter fan, it was so cool to see how everything was created. I even rode a broom in the green screen room which I am not to sure if I am allowed to upload but if I am, it will possibly be up on a vlog. Ravenclaw for life!

After we left, we took a walk through Hyde Park and towards Harrods, legit the biggest place I have ever seen. Instead of buying anything, we ended having the most delicious ice cream in the cutest shop that gave me an idea to having my own ice cream shop.

Just look how yummy the ice cream looks! I do not really count my steps, but in total we walked 7 miles, gotta keep up my summer bod!